Week 15 Start Them - Sit Them
Every week, usually on Friday, we will put together our "start them - sit them" list. Obviously, if Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson and Tom Brady aren't walking on crutches you are going to start them. This list is aimed at the borderline "start-or-sit" players.
Also remember it's getting late in the season and weather can be a factor, particularly in the cold and windy northeast. Or on a late Monday night in Washington.
This is the second round of the playoffs for most fantasy leagues. Good luck to those of you who are still alive in the championship race.
Dallas at New Orleans
Cowboys
Start - Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Roy Williams
Saints
Start - Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, Garrett Hartley
Comments - Romo & Co. will need to be at their best to stay in the game with New Orleans. He's been pretty good over the last three weeks, so this game looks like a high-scoring shootout. You'll want as many players in there as you can - except for the muddled Cowboys running game that has all but disappeared. You can't start Marion Barber the way he's run lately, particularly at the goal line, and neither Felix Jones nor Tashard Choice get enough touches to make them "fantasy worthy."
Chicago at Baltimore
Bears
Start - Matt Forte, Robbie Gould
Ravens
Start - Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Billy Cundiff, Ravens defense
Comments - Forte is now splitting the workload with Kahlil Bell which limits how good he can be, but it's still tough to sit your first-round draft choice isn't it? It's been six weeks since Jay Cutler had a good fantasy total and Sunday against the Ravens is not likely to the day he turns it around. Rice should have a big day against the 24th-ranked Bears run defense. Don't fret the finger injury to Mason, he hasn't missed a game since 2002.
New England at Buffalo
Patriots
Start - Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Steven Gostkowski
Bills
Start - Fred Jackson, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, Rian Lindell
Comments - Maroney should be "large" against the worst run defense in the league, but the more interesting question will be whether Moss shows up to play. My guess is that Brady and Coach Belichick get him involved early and often as they'll need their No.1 receiver down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Arizona at Detroit
Cardinals
Start - Kurt Warner, Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Cardinals defense
Lions
Start - Calvin Johnson
Comments - After last week's sad performance against San Francisco on Monday night, this is the perfect opponent for the Cardinals to rebound against. The Lions don't stop the run or the pass very well. It looks like Fitzgerald will play, but you should check back just before game-time to verify that fact and have a backup plan ready. If Fitzgerald sits, Steve Breaston is a good option. Calvin Johnson is also hurting, but is supposed to play. He'll be another game- time decision.
Cleveland at Kansas City
Browns
Start - Chris Jennings, Josh Cribbs
Chiefs
Start - Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Ryan Succop
Comments - Jennings had 20 carries last week, but is dealing with shoulder problems. Check back at game-time to verify that he's playing, otherwise Jerome Harrison would be the play. Cribbs is fantasy-worthy no matter who the Browns start at running back.
Atlanta at New York Jets
Falcons
Start - Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez
Jets
Start - Thomas Jones, Jerricho Cotchery, Jets defense
Comments - Whether Matt Ryan or Chris Redman plays at quarterback doesn't really matter, since neither should be started against the Jets No.1 defense. If Turner plays, he'll be hard to sit, although both Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling will get some carries to reduce his ability to put up big numbers. You can't play Roddy White either, not against Darrelle Revis. Mark Sanchez likely returns, but isn't worthy of starting.
San Francisco at Philadelphia
49ers
Start - Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, Joe Nedney
Eagles
Start - Donovan McNabb, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, David Akers
Comments - The 49ers went back to the running game to grind out a victory over Arizona. That probably won't work this week against the Eagles in Philadelphia because they won't get seven turnovers again. Expect to see a lot of Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree. If you have been starting Brent Celek, he's dealing with a back injury which should have you looking in another direction.
Houston at St. Louis
Texans
Start - Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Texans defense
Rams
Start - Steven Jackson
Comments - It seems as if Arian Foster is the running back "du jour." The Texans have featured Steve Slaton, Chris Brown and Ryan Moats at various times this year - this week it's Foster. He should be worth double-digit points. To make matters worse, the injury-riddled Rams are dealing with the swine flu. This has all the makings of a 34-7 game.
Miami at Tennessee
Dolphins
Start - Ricky Williams
Titans
Start - Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, Rob Bironas, Titans defense
Comments - Better defenses than the Dolphins have tried to contain Johnson and only four have succeeded in keeping him under 100 yards rushing (Pittsburgh, New York Jets, Jacksonville, Indianapolis). Williams has four 100-yard days of his own in the last five games. Looks like a ground war about to happen.
Oakland at Denver
Raiders
Start - none
Broncos
Start - Kyle Orton, Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Marshall, Matt Prater, Broncos defense
Comments - The Nnamdi Asomugha-Brandon Marshall matchup should be worth the price of admission, but Marshall owners won't be happy with the results. Moreno should have a big day against Oakland's 30th-ranked run defense.
Cincinnati at San Diego
Bengals
Start - Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Chad Ochocinco, Shayne Graham
Chargers
Start - Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Nate Kaeding
Comments - It's hard to predict whether the Bengals will be ready to play after the death of Chris Henry or if they'll come out flat. You know the Chargers will be ready, so start them with confidence.
Green Bay at Pittsburgh
Packers
Start - Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley, Mason Crosby
Steelers
Start - Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller
Comments - These are teams headed in the opposite directions, but Steelers' pride should keep this game competitive and it looks like a high-scoring one at that. Finley has the most targets of any Packers receiver over the past four games (31), just ahead of Jennings (28) and Driver (26). Hines Ward played at less than 100% last week and it showed - four catches for 21 yards. He's still not healthy.
Tampa Bay at Seattle
Buccaneers
Start - none
Seahawks
Start - Matt Hasselbeck, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Comments - Hasselbeck usually plays well at home, so if you need him, he's a viable option. Nate Burleson won't play making Houshmandzadeh a great pick this week. Seattle is not a good place for a visiting rookie quarterback.
Minnesota at Carolina
Vikings
Start - Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, Ryan Longwell, Vikings defense
Panthers
Start - DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, John Kasay
Comments - I'm expecting Peterson and the running game to shine against the Panthers' 26th-ranked run defense. Then play-action will work and Favre will hit any receiver he wants. I'd start any healthy Vikings. This could be a tough game for the one-dimensional Panther offense (read DeAngelo Williams) unless Matt Moore can start hitting his receivers.
New York Giants at Washington
Giants
Start - Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Kevin Boss, Lawrence Tynes
Redskins
Start - Jason Campbell, Quinton Ganther, Fred Davis, Redskins defense
Comments - Manning played very well last week against Philadelphia, but could be in for a tougher time against the Washington defense which is ranked No.4 against the pass. The good news for Giants fans is that Jacobs has looked much better over the past two weeks. Ganther played well last week with 93 combined yards from scrimmage and two scores, then again, it was against Oakland. Campbell has played solidly over the past three weeks and Philadelphia showed there are plenty of gaps in the Giants pass defense to be exploited.
Every week, usually on Friday, we will put together our "start them - sit them" list. Obviously, if Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson and Tom Brady aren't walking on crutches you are going to start them. This list is aimed at the borderline "start-or-sit" players.
Also remember it's getting late in the season and weather can be a factor, particularly in the cold and windy northeast. Or on a late Monday night in Washington.
This is the second round of the playoffs for most fantasy leagues. Good luck to those of you who are still alive in the championship race.
Dallas at New Orleans
Cowboys
Start - Tony Romo, Jason Witten, Miles Austin, Roy Williams
Saints
Start - Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson, Garrett Hartley
Comments - Romo & Co. will need to be at their best to stay in the game with New Orleans. He's been pretty good over the last three weeks, so this game looks like a high-scoring shootout. You'll want as many players in there as you can - except for the muddled Cowboys running game that has all but disappeared. You can't start Marion Barber the way he's run lately, particularly at the goal line, and neither Felix Jones nor Tashard Choice get enough touches to make them "fantasy worthy."
Chicago at Baltimore
Bears
Start - Matt Forte, Robbie Gould
Ravens
Start - Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Billy Cundiff, Ravens defense
Comments - Forte is now splitting the workload with Kahlil Bell which limits how good he can be, but it's still tough to sit your first-round draft choice isn't it? It's been six weeks since Jay Cutler had a good fantasy total and Sunday against the Ravens is not likely to the day he turns it around. Rice should have a big day against the 24th-ranked Bears run defense. Don't fret the finger injury to Mason, he hasn't missed a game since 2002.
New England at Buffalo
Patriots
Start - Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Steven Gostkowski
Bills
Start - Fred Jackson, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, Rian Lindell
Comments - Maroney should be "large" against the worst run defense in the league, but the more interesting question will be whether Moss shows up to play. My guess is that Brady and Coach Belichick get him involved early and often as they'll need their No.1 receiver down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Arizona at Detroit
Cardinals
Start - Kurt Warner, Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Cardinals defense
Lions
Start - Calvin Johnson
Comments - After last week's sad performance against San Francisco on Monday night, this is the perfect opponent for the Cardinals to rebound against. The Lions don't stop the run or the pass very well. It looks like Fitzgerald will play, but you should check back just before game-time to verify that fact and have a backup plan ready. If Fitzgerald sits, Steve Breaston is a good option. Calvin Johnson is also hurting, but is supposed to play. He'll be another game- time decision.
Cleveland at Kansas City
Browns
Start - Chris Jennings, Josh Cribbs
Chiefs
Start - Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Ryan Succop
Comments - Jennings had 20 carries last week, but is dealing with shoulder problems. Check back at game-time to verify that he's playing, otherwise Jerome Harrison would be the play. Cribbs is fantasy-worthy no matter who the Browns start at running back.
Atlanta at New York Jets
Falcons
Start - Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez
Jets
Start - Thomas Jones, Jerricho Cotchery, Jets defense
Comments - Whether Matt Ryan or Chris Redman plays at quarterback doesn't really matter, since neither should be started against the Jets No.1 defense. If Turner plays, he'll be hard to sit, although both Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling will get some carries to reduce his ability to put up big numbers. You can't play Roddy White either, not against Darrelle Revis. Mark Sanchez likely returns, but isn't worthy of starting.
San Francisco at Philadelphia
49ers
Start - Alex Smith, Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree, Joe Nedney
Eagles
Start - Donovan McNabb, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, David Akers
Comments - The 49ers went back to the running game to grind out a victory over Arizona. That probably won't work this week against the Eagles in Philadelphia because they won't get seven turnovers again. Expect to see a lot of Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree. If you have been starting Brent Celek, he's dealing with a back injury which should have you looking in another direction.
Houston at St. Louis
Texans
Start - Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Texans defense
Rams
Start - Steven Jackson
Comments - It seems as if Arian Foster is the running back "du jour." The Texans have featured Steve Slaton, Chris Brown and Ryan Moats at various times this year - this week it's Foster. He should be worth double-digit points. To make matters worse, the injury-riddled Rams are dealing with the swine flu. This has all the makings of a 34-7 game.
Miami at Tennessee
Dolphins
Start - Ricky Williams
Titans
Start - Chris Johnson, Kenny Britt, Rob Bironas, Titans defense
Comments - Better defenses than the Dolphins have tried to contain Johnson and only four have succeeded in keeping him under 100 yards rushing (Pittsburgh, New York Jets, Jacksonville, Indianapolis). Williams has four 100-yard days of his own in the last five games. Looks like a ground war about to happen.
Oakland at Denver
Raiders
Start - none
Broncos
Start - Kyle Orton, Knowshon Moreno, Brandon Marshall, Matt Prater, Broncos defense
Comments - The Nnamdi Asomugha-Brandon Marshall matchup should be worth the price of admission, but Marshall owners won't be happy with the results. Moreno should have a big day against Oakland's 30th-ranked run defense.
Cincinnati at San Diego
Bengals
Start - Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Chad Ochocinco, Shayne Graham
Chargers
Start - Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Nate Kaeding
Comments - It's hard to predict whether the Bengals will be ready to play after the death of Chris Henry or if they'll come out flat. You know the Chargers will be ready, so start them with confidence.
Green Bay at Pittsburgh
Packers
Start - Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jermichael Finley, Mason Crosby
Steelers
Start - Ben Roethlisberger, Rashard Mendenhall, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller
Comments - These are teams headed in the opposite directions, but Steelers' pride should keep this game competitive and it looks like a high-scoring one at that. Finley has the most targets of any Packers receiver over the past four games (31), just ahead of Jennings (28) and Driver (26). Hines Ward played at less than 100% last week and it showed - four catches for 21 yards. He's still not healthy.
Tampa Bay at Seattle
Buccaneers
Start - none
Seahawks
Start - Matt Hasselbeck, T.J. Houshmandzadeh
Comments - Hasselbeck usually plays well at home, so if you need him, he's a viable option. Nate Burleson won't play making Houshmandzadeh a great pick this week. Seattle is not a good place for a visiting rookie quarterback.
Minnesota at Carolina
Vikings
Start - Brett Favre, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, Ryan Longwell, Vikings defense
Panthers
Start - DeAngelo Williams, Steve Smith, John Kasay
Comments - I'm expecting Peterson and the running game to shine against the Panthers' 26th-ranked run defense. Then play-action will work and Favre will hit any receiver he wants. I'd start any healthy Vikings. This could be a tough game for the one-dimensional Panther offense (read DeAngelo Williams) unless Matt Moore can start hitting his receivers.
New York Giants at Washington
Giants
Start - Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, Kevin Boss, Lawrence Tynes
Redskins
Start - Jason Campbell, Quinton Ganther, Fred Davis, Redskins defense
Comments - Manning played very well last week against Philadelphia, but could be in for a tougher time against the Washington defense which is ranked No.4 against the pass. The good news for Giants fans is that Jacobs has looked much better over the past two weeks. Ganther played well last week with 93 combined yards from scrimmage and two scores, then again, it was against Oakland. Campbell has played solidly over the past three weeks and Philadelphia showed there are plenty of gaps in the Giants pass defense to be exploited.
